COLONIES.――A protracted experience convinces us that it may be laid down as a principle demonstrated by numerous examples, that if Western and Central Africa is ever to advance in civilization; if its inhabitants are ever to become not Europeanized, but intelligent, competent and productive Africans; if they are ever to be brought into commercial relations mutually beneficial with Europe and America, it must be by establishing and fostering such colonies as Liberia. If it is the desire of Christians to abolish polygamy, to put a stop to domestic slavery, to encompass and vivify the people by civilizing influences, to elevate their thought, ennoble their action, and regenerate the continent, these things must be done by planting colonies of Christian and civilized Negroes along that coast and in the interior. “Worthy the Lamb, for he was slain for us! The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks Shout to each other, and the mountain tops From distant mountains catch the flying joy: Till, nation after nation taught the strain, Earth rolls the rapturous hosanna round.” [_Editorial from_ THE SUN, _of Baltimore, October 25, 1881_.] THE CONTINENT OF THE FUTURE.――The Supplement of “The Sun” to-day contains an article by Mr. William Coppinger, Secretary of the American Colonization Society, upon Africa, its condition from various points of view, its trade, mines, agricultural products and increased closeness of relation with the civilized world, which cannot fail to prove of interest to all persons concerned in the future of the mysterious “dark continent.” Americans can hardly conceive the importance attached by Europeans at present to the matters with which Mr. Coppinger so fully and entertainingly deals. The continental powers of Europe, perceiving the immense advantage possessed by England in having her Indian Empire and her colonies as outlets for her manufactures and excess of population, are seeking to imitate her example by founding claims to such territories yet unoccupied by Europeans as are unable to protect themselves from aggression backed by Krupp guns. After the pickings of Russia, England and France, there is little of Asia, besides, perhaps, the Corean peninsula, left to appropriate. The jealousy of the United States has deterred the nations of the Eastern hemisphere from attempts, like that of Maximilian in Mexico, to found claims upon territories in either North or South America. Africa remains, and is at their doors. Having an area of 9,858,000 square miles, and an estimated population, mostly barbarous, of about 201,787,000 souls, it offers, despite its unfavorable climate, great advantages to the European people who shall first appropriate its fertile interior, its trade in mineral and agricultural products, and open these up to European commerce by means of lines of steamboat and railway communications. Africa will perhaps at no distant day become to Europe what North and